Solar Updraft Technology: A New Old Idea
The solar updraft tower, which uses the greenhouse effect and thermal convection to drive wind turbines and produce electricity, has been hailed as a novel — and promising — approach to renewable energy generation.
The technology relies on an elementary principle of physics: heat rises. To generate power, a massive greenhouse creates hot air and funnels it into a tall chimney-like structure. This ‘hot wind’ propels a wind turbine within the tower. According to some estimates, such towers could, if sufficiently large and located in the proper environment, generate emissions-free power at a considerable discount over traditional renewable sources.
Nevertheless, solar updraft has so far been a non-starter in the world of utility-scale power. A 50-kilowatt research prototype was built and successfully operated in Spain for several years in the mid-1980s, but the technology has yet to be proven commercially viable.
Now, an Australian firm, EnviroMission Ltd., hopes to convince investors to support its plans to build two utility-scale solar updraft towers in the deserts of Arizona. The firm has submitted applications to use several hundred acres of public lands in La Paz County for the power plants, and last November, the Southern California Public Power Authority approved the company as a potential power provider. <Read More>
California-First state to mandate reduction of carbon fuels
by Kevin Yamamura-Truthout.org
California became the first state in the nation Thursday to mandate carbon-based reductions in transportation fuels in an attempt to cut the state’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.
The California Air Resources Board approved a phased-in reduction starting in 2011, with a goal of shrinking carbon impacts 10 percent by 2020. Fuel producers can comply in different ways, such as providing a cleaner fuel portfolio, blending low-carbon ethanol with gasoline or purchasing credits from other clean-energy producers.
California’s low-carbon fuel standard could lead to a national measure under President Barack Obama, as well as shape how the transportation sector evolves. But businesses and oil industry critics warned that more research is necessary and that its action would lead to higher costs for consumers in a recessionary economy. <Read More>
The “Math” of Green Efficiency
by Mike Ryan
We all want to reduce our carbon footprint and we think we know how to do this. We can buy solar stuff; buy hybrid or electric cars; put up wind turbines; “plant” solar farms and otherwise commit to a host of personal lifestyle options that are connected in varying degree to the Green Power Movement. Unfortunately, most of us within the Green Room do not have the really big picture– the full-on, “let’s step back and look at the tapestry” that is energy interrelatedness.
Let us not become “greenwashed” as to what really works!
In other words, exactly how much energy does it take to make any single piece of this overall green puzzle? What kind of energy are we using to manufacture these parts of the green machine? Is a pure electric car better overall in reducing carbon emissions than a hybrid? Just how much carbon is released during the manufacture of a singe wind turbine? How about a single solar cell or panel?
These questions can be answered by the relatively simple approach that is used in the world of durable goods manufacturing: supply chain calculus. That’s right… the Mathematics of cost/benefit analysis as it applies to the pricing of the parts that go into a larger machine. And not only the cost of the parts, but the level of carbon emissions produced to make the parts.
University of Arkansas supply chain specialist, Greg Norris is building an open source tool, Earthster, that will use the power of the network effect to allow businesses to see how green their suppliers are. A business enters info, such as its energy usage, source of supplies, etc., and the software generates a broad environmental footprint for the company that goes far beyond simple carbon footprinting. While individual companies do this for individual products, the key Earthster innovation is that it would connect up these disparate analyses into a network of suppliers and producers.
Another approach to getting at the real bottom line on the green sector, comes from a company, Efficiency 2.0 which makes software that tracks and calculates energy efficiency for utilities. Efficiency 2.0 provides utility customers with granular data about the specific energy usage and CO2 reductions that their actions will have in their homes, based on the energy system where they live. It might be frustrating for greens in Birmingham to know that their power is dirtier than their friends in Los Angeles however, it also means that Alabamans, by reducing their electricity usage, could have a bigger climate impact. And, by extension, we could argue that this kind of information tells us that a company that proposes to make green goods, might be better off setting up shop in yes? Los Angeles rather than in Birmingham!
Another example…Efficiency 2.0 estimates that replacing an old refrigerator with a new energy-efficient one would save about 1,000 pounds of CO2 annually in Chicago but only 582 pounds in New York. The aggregate data is nearly useless.
This kind of information is useful as we continue to grow the Green Energy Sector. We need to be able to make cogent, informed decisions about what and where to manufacture our green goods. The data we gain from these analyses might be what we need to understand which actions make a difference and which just make us feel good.
Excerpts from:
To Save the Earth, Start With Data,
by Alexis Madrigal
America’s Pursuit of Energy Independence
By Michael Ryan
The argument surrounding the idea of energy independence is vital and necessary and not only addresses the issue of global warming but America’s national security. No longer a purely political debate, the very real threat of man-made climate change has been vetted by most of the world’s leading scientists and thus has become an issue relevant to all of the citizens of the planet. The facts remain clear: Global Warming is a reality, we must reduce carbon emissions; we must reduce or eliminate our dependence on foreign oil, and we must create a Green Energy Sector that will be the hallmark of the new economy.
While countries like Germany and France may be considered the current leaders in the application of renewable energy technologies, America is poised to create and implement new solutions for clean and efficient energy production.
With new approaches to present technologies like Geothermal, Wind, Solar and Fuel Cell, and guided by the resources of our institutions both academic and Governmental, we can indeed become the leader in this vital pursuit while advancing the frontiers of discovery into promising energy systems.
Systems like:
• Alternative fuel cell electrolytes: Direct Methanol (DMFC), Alkaline (AFC), Phosphoric Acid (PAFC), Molten Carbonate (MCFC) and Solid Oxide (SOFC). See Figure 1
• Dye Sensitized Solar Cells: Thin film-multi junction solar cells that use nanotechnology to increase efficiency and allow for more flexible application.
• Integrated electrochemical and thermo-chemical renewable energy production, storage, distribution and recycling systems. Recently patented.
The current Government mandate is that America will be pursuing clean energy technologies aggressively with the goal of not only reducing our own carbon footprint, but to set the standard for the rest of the world. With cutting edge solutions and world class manufacturing systems, we will create the jobs of the future in addition to eliminating the causes of global warming.
With the help of our scientists, current and future, America will pioneer the Green Energy Sector that will drive the new economy for decades to come. This means that we need the best and brightest minds to take on the challenge of becoming the world leader in clean energy production. We must remain dedicated in our commitment to support academic excellence in engineering, physics, chemistry and the material sciences, as well as the scientists already in the world doing research and development.
We need your help.
• First, become an educated consumer of energy. Do your part to minimize your own “carbon footprint.” Research the energy alternatives already available to you like installing wind turbines or solar panels where you can.
• Second, get involved at the local level. Form a committee of concerned citizens in your town and lobby for public buildings or local manufacturers to utilize renewable energy where possible.
Together we will ensure the future will be Green and Clean!
Learn More Links:
American Council on Renewable Energy:
http://www.acore.org/
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE):
http://www.eere.energy.gov/
National Renewable Energy Laboratory:
http://www.nrel.gov/about/
Energy Information Association:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/fuelrenewable.html
Copyright © 2009 Michael Ryan. All Rights Reserved
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